The Yang part of practice allows us to integrate this openness and awareness into a sense of steadiness and alignment with a gentle energizing flow. A Yang practice strengthens the body and mind.
The Yin part of practice is gentle, quiet, and meditative. Finding stillness in each shape for 3-5 minutes which allows muscles to relax so that the connective tissue is stimulated as awareness is brought to sensations in the body. Yin Yoga has a nourishing effect on the organs, immune system, connective tissue, muscles and joints.
Where the Yang will focus on strengthening the muscles, the Yin part will focus on relaxing them completely. By balancing your Yin and Yang your energy flow will increase, giving you a peaceful balanced mind and body.
Through a series of postures aimed at building strength and flexibility, this class is designed to enhance your performance as a climber. Learn how to integrate yoga on and off the mat, breath work to increase lung capacity, meditation to destress and conscious movement in this hour long class to keep you climbing on!
Fire up your core and start the day right! This class uses a combination of fluid movements and Pilates-based exercises to improve your strength, flexibility, and coordination. This gentle and sustainable approach to improving core strength and skeletal stability allows you to ease into movement first thing in the morning, but will still leave your muscles burning by the end of it. Modifications available to tailor to all fitness levels.
Aerial Core is a unique and fun method of combining core and upper body strength using a soft hammock to suspend and support body weight, while enhancing balance, posture and flexibility.
Prepare yourself to take on the rest of the day by energizing your entire being! Get your breath flowing and your blood pumping during this afternoon pick me up. Join me on the mat to focus your mind, awaken your body, and beat that midday crash!
Are your tight muscles holding you back from reaching tricky holds? Slow mobility flows build internal heat to soften your muscles and open up your joints like never before! Change your range of motion forever while improving your strength and stamina.
Take this time to slow down. Hatha yoga brings balance to the opposing sides of the body while strengthening your core. With a heavy focus on deep breathing, allow the breath to be your guide on this slow flowing journey. Take this time to slow down and bring balance to your life.
Aerial silks can serve as amazing cross training for climbers. Students will naturally build upper body, core, and grip strength in the act of learning aerial skills that can be applied to their climbing practice. This class will introduce students to universal aerial foundations and terminology by taking them through strength, conditioning, and flexibility practices found in aerial silks training. Lesson plans are offered in a progressional manner so that all levels are welcome.
Weekend Wind down yoga with Aly is a 60 min class that incorporates intention setting, specific breath work and movement to help you center and relax at the end of the week. Whether you need to improve mobility, increase flexibility, ease existing pain or simply tap into your body, this all levels class is designed to balance the physical/mental/emotional landscapes. Join in Sunday evenings to take pause at the end of your week and create space for the next.
This class is a beautiful blend of pranayama (breathwork) exercise and flow of asanas (utilizing holds for strength-building & movement within a posture to target а wide-range of muscles), using active Ujjayi breath to release tension, go deeper and increase presence. The practice is concluded in meditation with singing bowls, a mantra (in english) and gratitude.This medium difficulty class is perfect for active individuals that desire to be challenged, feel more relaxed, and get more in touch with themselves.
Olivia (Liv) Davi is an experienced dancer, aerialist, yogi and rock climber. Since 2012, she has performed with the UCSB Middle East Dance Ensemble, Airedanse Collective, and Elevated Dreams Performance Tribe among others under the instruction of world-class aerial and flow arts instructors including Autumn Lotus, Matthew Leopold (The Greatest Showman), and Tammy Firefly. Liv is excited to assist in the expansion of Blue Granite’s aerial offering. She continues to teach aerial silks at Inverversion Gymnastics and Omni Tahoe and perform around the South Lake Tahoe area. Photo Credit: Morey Spellpan @studiospellman
Yelena was born in Uzbekistan, speaks Russian and Spanish and would consider herself a world citizen. Her love for Yoga first started when she was in University and was further deepened when she studied Pranayama, Iygengar & Hatha Yoga in Rishikesh, India. Followed by the study of Ashtanga-Vinyasa, Pranayama, and Singing Bowls in Kathmandu, Nepal. She is also a ski and snowboard coach at Kirkwood Ski Resort, a pranayama breathwork coach and a sound healer. With her variety of knowledge and vast experience, Yelena hopes to bring her unique energy and passion for movement and wellness to every class. She hopes to connect with you over yoga &/or climbing 🙂 Namaste.
Originally from the UK, I took my first yoga class there 37 years ago! I have explored many different styles of yoga over the years and teacher trained in the Vinyasa style in 2008. I trained as a Holistic Health Coach in 2014 which has become such a useful tool to help not only others, but also myself to understand what my mind, body and soul needs to maintain health in this ever changing world. I have travelled and lived in many places, but there was always yoga - a way to find grounding and community in a new place. Lots of moves and life changes have left me needing more stillness and peace and quiet in my life. Yin! I recently completed my YinYoga teacher training at Joya Yoga in the Bay Area. I am excited to share with others my passion for Yin and its ability to challenge our bodies and minds in a gentler way.
Ian is a Barton baby who grew up in the eclectic gold-mining town of Nevada City, where his mother and community helped expand his heart and mind while growing up. After high school, he attended the first Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy, which launched his 13-year career as a wildland firefighter. Pursuing the final stage of his career as a McCall Smokejumper, Yoga became the centerpiece of Ian’s experience which positively permeated every aspect of his life, including but not limited to mental fortitude, physical performance, relationships, and an unshakable sense of being. Following his desire to be of service on a more personal level, Ian began studying and teaching Yoga to empower others to live their dreams. He also serves this amazing community as a relationship coach and wedding officiant whenever he is not pushing the limits of his own experience via self-propelled and gravity sports or studying and applying transpersonal psychology. Ian is excited to begin his journey as a climber and become a rock among many within the community of Lake Tahoe and the encompassing Sierra Nevadas.
ulz grew up in Russia and has been dancing since she was 6 years old. Like most young girls, she started out with Russian traditional dances. Then, at the age of 16, she discovered the world of R&B and hip hop dances, and has been hooked ever since. She has experience teaching dance classes to kids and adults. Since moving to the US, she has danced at some of the best studios in big cities like Miami, NYC & LA.
Sue Arkell is a highly experienced fitness instructor with a resume spanning three decades of sports and fitness instruction. Sue has coached beginning to elite gymnastics on national and international stages, and has instructed Pilates, step, boot camps, and yoga classes. She is passionate about teaching students of all ages and walks of life.
Alana first discovered yoga while studying at San Diego State University in 2006. Yoga has since become such an integral part of Alana’s life. Yoga gives her a sense of deep connection to her authentic self. In taking a yoga class with her, Alana aims to have you feeling refreshed and inspired, and that you walk away with a deeper understanding of yourself.
Alana previously lived in South Lake Tahoe for 7 years and is returning after having spent a couple years in Sacramento and also this past year living abroad in New Zealand. She completed her 200 hr Vinyasa YTT and her 50 hour Yin YTT at Nadi Wellness Centre in Queenstown, New Zealand. Alana looks forward to connecting with you on the mat.
Paul Loupe is a certified Yoga instructor. He completed his initial teacher training in Denver through “Core Power Yoga”. He has experience teaching in studios and Recreation Centers in addition to community programs and one on one yoga instruction. He is a former English Literature teacher and has been a part of the South Lake Tahoe community in some way for 30 years. Currently seeking climbing partners since he wore out the auto belay.
Gianna Vani discovered yoga in 2010 when she was 14 back in Chicago. She embodies a true passion for helping people grow and believes in sharing the beauty of mindful living. Over the past eight years as a certified instructor, she has offered her students natural ways to relax, heal, and build strength through a mindful approach to yoga. She brings music, movement, and fun into the lives of her students by creating an experience on the mat to remember.
She safely guides her students with kindness and joy offering suggestions on how to use yoga as a daily medicine, and as a tool for personal growth. Her teachings are heavily rooted in mindful based stress reduction, love and compassion (metta), self empowerment, and insight. Forever a student herself, Gianna is always learning and seeking out new methods to add to her teaching practice to keep the excitement flowing.
Alexis Craig is a native to South Lake Tahoe who left to seek her fortune and has now returned in service to her home town community. She is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Registered Yoga Teacher, and TRX Senior Instructor. She has a Harvard degree, and a passion for embodied empowerment. Her group classes are sweaty and fun - and Alexis is quite masterful at scaling the workout to accommodate injuries and differing fitness levels. And if you are looking for some more personalized advice on your fitness journey, Alexis is always happy to help.
Taylor found the practice of yoga in 2016 as a way to find relief in the body as well as the mind. Being an avid outdoor climber, climbing instructor, and backcountry guide for years, he faced many of the common outdoor injuries. Following several climbing and snowboarding injuries, because of the profoundness of the recovery and the support he found in yoga, he traveled to Thailand to explore the practice further though Teacher Training. Since then, he has taught and shared the practice of yoga on several continents around the world. On his path to a 1,000 hour Yoga Therapy Certification, he is here to explore, learn, teach, and develop a community here.
Taylor stays very active, enjoying nature and the outdoors, adventuring with his super sweet and awesome dog, Ari.
Aly is a Yoga instructor, CMT with a strong background in Ayurveda, and a passionate outdoor enthusiast. She specializes in Hatha Yoga and has been passionate about teaching since 2016 when she recovered from a spinal injury. In lieu of her injury, a life passion to encourage others to find self-healing and empowerment through yoga and massage emerged. Her background in teaching has been primarily climbers, but also has experience working with at-risk-youth, and people with various injuries.
LeeAnn has been working with the South Lake community for over 8 years at Barton Physical Therapy helping individuals get back to their passions. Now combining her physical therapy knowledge with her 200 HR-RYT, LeeAnn will challenge you on your mats. Recognizing the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle, her style of yoga places emphasis on individuality in the practice. She focuses on mobility, flexibility, and strength, and how these key pieces are interconnected. She will guide you on how this vital trifecta can be incorporated into your daily life, on and off the mat and in movement on rock.
